Introduction & filter question

[notung]

My partner and I have been keeping axolotls for quite some time. We have an albino of 11 years, and a black axie who joined us a couple of months back. They live in a 3ft tank with sand substrate, along with a several pieces of Castlemaine slate and some live plants. Our two endured about a month and a half of apartheid, then became friends when the wall came out (they are the same size).

Although our tank holds 152l (33.5 UK gal) at capacity, we generally have it filled to about 90l (20 UK gal). For aeration we are running a small Stellar S-30 air pump (link below), attached to a sponge filter on one end of the tank, and an airstone on the other. The pump claims to be effective for 'up to 20 gal', with the following info: 'The S-30 is for up to 20 gal.-32(GPH) Air Volume, 3.10(PSI)'

Would people say this is adequate? With our older axie I am concerned about implementing huge changes in the setup, but with our upgrade to this bigger tank a couple of months back, I wonder if we require more water movement and better filtration.

 

[ianclick]

Hi notung and welcome to the site.

Has there been any change in your water parameters? If there is no problems with these then it is likely your current filter is coping if not it may well be time to upgrade to a bigger one.

Good Luck

 

[notung]

Click, thanks for the reply.

I'm afraid we have never had the water parameters tested. I will have this done and check back against the recommendations on axolotl.org.

 

[notung]

Well, in the end I replaced the old sponge filter / air pump for a Hailea Waterfall Style Bio-Filter (SL-306). Sounded like a great idea because the waterfall flow is adjustable by a little turning knob, but it has unfortunately been very annoying purchase! When the flow is turned down, you always hear a loud, grating crunch coming from the pump motor! So far no amount of cleaning & tinkering with the filter has stopped this noise. When you turn the flow back up it disappears, but by that stage our axolotls' gills are being buffeted by the current - which I'd like to avoid.

I think I'm about to take the thing back, and opt for an external canister filter instead. Unless anybody had sensational ideas that I haven't thought of...?

The canister system I have been most impressed with is the Aqua One Aquis 500. It is recommended for tanks up to 120L (ours is around 150L at capacity). The filter comes with hoses, filter media, spray bar and a 3 year warranty. Do people think this filter will have a 'relaxed' enough flow for 2 axolotls? (I'd prefer to spend not so much time constructing baffles and such...)

Cheers!